Compatible with Android and iOS devices. Simple setup. Great battery life.

Cons

Requires a companion app, which isn't very good.

Bottom Line

The Halo Bluetooth Camera Shutter is a good way to snap photos on your phone wirelessly, but it requires a companion app that could stand to be improved.

Earlier this year I reviewed Hisy, a remote camera shutter for iOS devices. Now Android users can also get in on the action with Halo, a Bluetooth camera shutter that works with both iOS and Android phones. Made by the same manufacturer, the Halo costs $24.99, just like the Hisy, and it looks and performs very similarly. The only difference is that it requires a (free) companion app in order to start snapping pics wirelessly. So why does the Halo get a lower rating? Because the app it requires isn't very good.

Compatibility, Design, and SetupThe Halo works with both Android and iOS. It connects via Bluetooth 4.0, so you'll need a phone that supports this Bluetooth version. For Android phones, 4.3 or later is required, for iOS, you'll need at least version 7.0. For this review I connected the Halo with an Apple iPhone 5s and a Samsung Galaxy Note 4.

The device itself is a small round button, which, as far as I can tell, is physically identical to Hisy. It measures just over an inch in diameter and about half an inch thick. It's made of black plastic, with a matte finish on the bottom and sides, and a glossy face that looks like a power symbol. A semicircle around the HALO logo in the middle lights up red whenever you take a photo. It's definitely easy to lose, but it comes with a lanyard that allows you to attach it to your phone via its headphone jack. It'll also fit in a bag or pocket just fine.

Although it requires an app, setup is still super simple. First you have to search for "SB01" or "ShutterPanorama" in the Apple App Store or Google Play. After installing the app, all you have to do is follow the provided directions, which is as simple as hitting the Pair button on screen and the single button on the Halo. I'd say it's even easier than pairing the Hisy, since you don't need to root around in your phone's Bluetooth settings.

Performance and ConclusionsYou can start snapping photos as soon as you're paired up, but only from the Shutter Panorama app. Whenever you press the Halo button it will snap a picture or record video, which allows you to prop your phone up on a stand (a chintzy plastic one is included) or any other available surface, and wirelessly snap photos from afar. It makes it a lot easier to take selfies, or squeeze a bunch of people into a group shot without worrying about an automatic timer. It also makes it easier to take photos with the rear camera on your phone, which generally offers much higher resolution than the front-facing camera.

The Halo is rated to work up to 90 feet from your connected device, which gives you plenty of distance even when setting up a big group shot. The remote is powered by a single CR2032 coin cell battery that's rated to work for longer than five years on a 100-shot daily basis.

So while the Halo works pretty much the same as the Hisy, I did encounter one unique problem, and it's the required app. Simply put, Shutter Panorama isn't very good. It's a very basic camera app, but it doesn't allow you to zoom, for instance, or apply any of the filters or effects you'd find in your regular camera app. There's also no other way to take a photo through the app other than pressing the remote shutter button. Oddly, it also added a noticeable delay to photos taken with the Galaxy Note 4; photos shot manually through the camera app were nearly instantaneous, while photos taken through Shutter Panorama took just over one second each. This problem didn't exist with the iPhone 5s.

If it weren't for the app, the Halo would score the same rating as the Hisy. As it stands, though, I'd recommend iOS users just pick up Hisy instead. If you use Android, the Halo is still a perfectly good solution for taking pics wirelessly. The app isn't a deal breaker, and it's a fun, inexpensive way to capture some great shots.

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About the Author

Alex Colon is the managing editor of PCMag's consumer electronics team. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in English Writing and Literature from Pace University and got his start editing books before deciding technology would probably be a lot more fun.
Though he does the majority of his reading and writing on various digital displays, Alex still l... See Full Bio

Halo Bluetooth Camera Shutter

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